Acetylene-gas generator



Patented July 29, 191

' 'A. M. GRIFFIN.

V ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

. APPLICATION FILEDJULY H). 1 918. 1,31 1,270.

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THE COLUMBIA PLANOURAPII co. WASHINGTON, I).

ALVAH M. GRIFFIN, or KANSAS C TY, MISSOURI.

,. v v ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July 29, 1919.

Application filed July 10, 1918, Serial No.244, 198.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALVAH, M. GRIFFIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Acetylene-Gas Generators, of which the following is a specification. 1

This invention relates to acetylene gas generators, and has for its object to producea machine of thischaracter whereby. the gas generated shall be .maintained at substantially a uniform predetermined pressure until the supply of carbid is exhausted. A further object is to produce an acetylene gas machine of the character set forth, which is of simple, strong, durable and inexpensive construction. I

With these objects in viewthe invention consists in certain, novel and useful features of construction and combinations of parts as hereinafter described-and claimed; and in order that it may be fully understood reference is to behad to the accompanying drawing, in which: a Figure 1, is a central vertical section of an acetylene gas generator embodying the invention.

Fig. 2, is a horizontal II--II of Fig. 1. I Fig. 3, is a fragmentary vertical section on the line IIIIII of Fig. 2. In the said drawing 1 indicates a tank provided with a drain cock 2 and a removable lid 3, the lid bein provided with a pressure gage 4, a relic valve 5lto reduce pressure by hand for, light work, such for example, as required for operating a'small torch, and a pop-ofl' release'6 of any common and well-known typeas conventionallyillus section on the line trated, to operate for the release of excessive pressure. I

I To establishan air tight connection between the top of the tank and thelid a rubber or equivalent gasket 7 is interposed between said elements, and clamping devices 8 are pivotally secured to the tank so as to be swung towardor from the lid prelimi nary to the removal of 'the latter or to placing the same. in operative position, Arranged concentrically within the tank is an annular cylindrical vessel 9, the outer wall of the same extending a considerable distance above its inner wall and being secured with a gas tight relation to the wall of the tank, the space between the inner and outer walls of said vessel constituting passage of the said vessel to a point above' the carbid hopper, the top of which'stands slightly above the top of the inner wall of said-vessel, sothat should water from the, seal chamber overflow the inner wall of said vessel, itfcould not enter the carbid hopper but could -flow down the exterior side of the same and'the inner side 'of the inner wall of the vessel] j i The hopper is provided at its lower end or ape xiwith. a discharge opening'and yieldingly closing said -discharge'opening is a cone shapedvalve 12. To hold the valve in pos tion it is provided witha stem 13 extending up through the cover ofthe hopper and througha tube 14 depending from said cover. Within the tube the stem has a collar 15 engaged by the upper endof a coiled spring 16 bearing at its lower end against an internal supporting shoulder 17 of said tube, the arrangement being such that sufficient pressure upon the upper end of the stem shall force the valve downward and permit carbid to drop from the hopper into the water with which the tank is charged toa suitable depth, this discharge of the carbid of coursebeing instantly followed by generation of gas, and in this connection .by a valve 20. A gas discharge pipe 21 extends from the upper part of the chamber of the tank, and to remove any forei matter from the gas, said pipe terminates 1n a down turned end 22 submerged in water contained in a cup 28, the cup having a fillin water can not be poured into the cup to enter the tank. In the upper part of the cup is a gauze or equivalent strainer 25 and above the strainer is a hair or equivalent packing 26,

L 24; below the level ofpipe 21, so that su cient The upper end of the cup is provided with a nipple 27 to which a hose is adapted to be connected for convenience in using the. gasv for welding or other purposes. The machine is provided with a bell 28 fittingover-thecarbid hopper and depending into the water seal chamber.

To operate the generator immediately after the carbid hopper, the bell, and the lid condition until gas is drawn off through ahose or the like, the bell descending as the gas is consumed and the pressure on the interior of the bell thereby lessened, and applying downward pressure upon the valve to open the same and supply additional carbid to the water in the tank and thusaugment the supply and pressure of the gas therein sufficiently to relevate the bell and permit the spring to reseat the valve.

In practice very little movement of the bell is required to open the valve or withdraw from engagement therewith. Conse quently the pressure in the tank is kept substantially uniform and supplies gas at a substantially uniform pressure for Welding and other purposes where it is desired tomaintain a uniform pressure for a considerable period of time.

\Vhen it is necessary to recharge the hopper, the-lid is unclamped'and removed 'to permit the bell and then the hopper to be withdrawn from the tank.

hen the carbid ash accumulates sufficiently, the tank can be drained-by opening the stopcock 2. y

A machine of the-character described will be found very desirable, not only for welding, but for many other purposes, and can be made in portable sizes and at comparatively small cost.

hile I havedescribed and shown the preferred embodiment of the invention it tank into a generating chamber and a pres sure chamber, a valve controlled by-pass connecting. saidchambers, a hopper for discharging carbid into the generating chambeiga valve for the hopper to be automati-. --cally nnseated when the pressure 1n the generating chamber falls below a predetermined point, and means for reseating the valve when the "pressure in the generatin chamber is restored to normal.

3. An acetylene generator comprising a tank, relatively movable means dividing said tank into a generating chamber and a pressure chamber, a valve controlled by-pass connecting said chambers, a hopper for dischargingcarbid into the generating chamber, a valve for the hopper to be automatically unseated when the pressure in p the generating chamber falls below a predetermined point', means for reseating the valve when the pressure in the generating chamber is restored to normal, and an automatic blow-offfto operate when the pressure Within the tank is excessive.

4. An acetylene generator comprlsmg a tank, relatively movable means dividing said tank into a generating chamber and a pressure chamber, a valve controlledby pass-connectingsaid chambers, a hopper for dis charging carbid into the generating chamber, a valve for the hopper to be automamcally unseated when the pressure in the generating chamber falls below apred'etermined point, means for reseating the valve when the pressure in the generating chamber-is restored to normal, and a pressure gage, a manually operative pressure release valve, and an automatic blow-off for the tank.

5. An acetylene generator comprising a tank, means including a liquid seal chamber and a bell floating therein, dividing the tank into. a generating chamber and a pressure chamber, a valve controlled by-pass connecting: said. chambers, means actuated by clescending movement. of the bell for discharg ing carbid into the generating chamber, a discharge pipe for the generating chamber, having a down-turned outer end, a cup communicating wit-h the lower end of said'pipe, a liquid supply for the cup between the plane release, valve and a gas blow-off, means including;a water-seal and a gas bell partitioning the tank into a generating chamber and a pressure chamber, a valve controlled by passconnectingsaid chambers, ahopper for discharging carbid into the generating chamber, a spring-closed valve closing the discharge end of the hopper to be unseated by suflicient downward movement of the gas bell, and a gas discharge pipe for the gene rating chamber.

7. An acetylene generator comprising a tank, means including a liquid seal chamher and a bell floating therein, dividing the tank into a generating chamber and a pressure chamber, means for generating gas in the generating chamber, means for introducing fluid under pressure in said pressure chamber, and means actuated by descending movement of the bell for discharging carbid into the generating chamber.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ALVAI-I M. GRIFFIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents, Washington, I). 0. 

